1930s Vintage Dresses and Fashion Ideas for Women
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1930s dresses, including 1930s dress styles, 1930s day dresses and evening gowns, and 1930s fashion icons and the influence of Old Hollywood on 1930s fashion
This post is all about 1930s Womens Dresses
Influential Old Hollywood stars and fashion icons in the 1930s had a profound impact on 1930s fashion.
This included the sex symbol Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and other starlets like Myrna Loy, Joan Bennet, and Irene Dunn.
“Films operated as high end fashion magazines and instructed women on the latest fashions and looks. Indeed, studio publicity departments made large-scale efforts to use fashion as a means to draw women in.” (Fiell, 2021)
Are you ready for some fabulous vintage fashion inspiration from some of the most iconic looks of Old Hollywood?
It’s showtime for one of the most memorable fashion decades in history.
The Backdrop for 1930s Fashion: A Brief History
“The 1930s is neatly framed by two major world events: the 1929 Wall Street Crash and, 10 years later, the outbreak of World War II. In fashion terms, the 1930s often does not get the attention it deserves as it falls between the follies of the Jazz Age and the horrors of the war.” (Fiell, 2021)
1920s fashion reflected the decade of excess.
Think Great Gatsby extravagance with glitz, jazz ensembles, and sparkling champagne towers.
In stark contrast, the 1940s was a decade overshadowed by World War II, and restricted by rationing. The restricted fashion scene resulted in more simple and austere styles.
And that brings us to the 1930s, which was sandwiched between these two pivotal decades.
The stock market crash kicked off the 30s with a financial meltdown that vibrated around the world, and plummeted it into the Great Depression and tight economic times.
For more on 1920s and 1930s Fashion:
The 1930s Silhouette: The Return to Femininity & Romanticism
“For the majority of the [1920s] decade curves were deemphasised and silhouettes flat and straight” (Fiell, 2021)
The “in” look of the 1920s was boyish.
It glorified youthful shapes.
The unflattering tubular shape and “sacklike” style ignored curves.
In the 1930s, style developed into a more elevated and romanticized feminine silhouette.
The 30s simple lines gently hugged the female curves, and brought the natural waist back to where it should be.
“By the early 1930s, the fashionable silhouette was evolving into a slender, elongated torso with widening shoulders and a neat head with softly waved short hair” (Blackman, 2012)
1930s Dresses: Other Iconic Style Elements for Women’s Fashion
1930s dresses were also characterized by strong shoulders and a cinched in waist.
And of course, the invention the bias cut that gently hugged woman’s curves in a whole feminine way was oh so chic.
There was also a return to more conservative clothing styles.
Hemlines dropped again, to a mid calf length.
Skirts gently followed curves, often with a slight feminine flare at the bottom.
And by the end of the decade, the late 1930s, skirts became more pleated, flowing into a gentle a-line, a style that would go on to be popular in the 1940s.
30s fashion was dainty and fussy, with lots of feminine details like buttons, gathers, bows, and frills.
Plus accessories were oh so key for 1930s outfits.
Think gorgeous silk scarves and classy bling, like a statement broach, bracelet, or earrings. And of course the gloves, furs, and the perfect pair of shoes!
1930s Fashion: The Influence of Old Hollywood Movie Stars
Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (left) and the famous Lynton dress worn by Joan Crawford (right)
During the severe economic downturn and difficult years of the Great Depression, women flocked to the movies.
With their fascinating, flashy, and prestigious styles, the stars’ fashion was the perfect escape from the harsh realities of everyday life. And women couldn’t get enough!
Plus given the technical advances in film, silent films were now a thing of the past.
Cinemas debuted the new extravagant ‘talkies’ and the glamorous stars stole the center stage, and instantly became global phenomenons.
The public ate up the romance and glamour of the movies.
Hollywood had a huge influence on 1930s fashion.
“Hollywood launched several memorable fashions of the Thirties, including… Plunkett’s ‘barbecue dress’ for Vivien Leigh’s Scarlette O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)… and most famously Joan Crawford’s ruffled organdie dress from Letty Lynton (1932).”
…It was estimated that over a half of a million copies of this dress sold as women of all ages fell for this dress, as Vogue noted in 1938: “Every little girl in the country, within two weeks of the release of (…) ‘Letty Lynton’ felt she would die if she couldn’t have a dress like that.’ With the result that the country was flooded with Little Joan Crawfords.’ (Fiell, 2021)
Old Hollywood actresses jumped on this train. They endorsed and autographed dress patterns and fashion lines for ready-to-wear fashion lines, like those featured in Sears catalogs.
If you love 1930s glamour, you might also like:
1930s Fashion: The Influence of Old Hollywood Movie Stars: Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple (left) and a girl holding a Shirley Temple doll (right)
Another 1930s celebrity that had a huge influence fashion in the 1930s was the adorable and charming Shirley Temple.
Shirley Temple was a huge hit as a child movie actress.
Her innocence, charm, and sunny personality captivated audiences, and was the perfect antidote to the gloom of the Great Depression.
Look-alike contests for little girls and the sales of genuine Shirley Temple dolls boomed.
Frilly feminine dresses, tap dancing classes and curly locks soared in popularity for little girls across the globe.
1930s Fashion: Style Was Affordable to the Everyone, Not Just the Rich
With the invention of cheaper fabrics, like rayon, and novelties, like the zipper, chic fashion became inexpensive.
Now all women could afford to be fashionable, not just the wealthy.
Coco Chanel boasted that she had enabled the non-wealthy to “walk around like millionaires.”
Sears also offered a rang of “semi-made” outfits in their 1930s catalogs.
These only required a lady to sew one or two seams and voilà, say hello to the semi-tailored vintage outfit.
What a great option for ladies who could no longer afford tailored couture garments.
Don’t you love this concept? Of course it would require one to know how to sew…
1930s Fashion: Iconic Designers of the Decade & Fashion Icons
1930s dresses designed by the famous Coco Chanel
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“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous”
A fashion designer like Coco Chanel hardly needs an introduction.
After debuting the iconic little black dress in 1926, the rest, as they say, was history.
Not only did she run a successful fashion line, and dressed actresses of Old Hollywood, but she also designed the costumes for some films, including Tonight or Never 1931.
“Italian female fashion designer and couturier, the greatest rival of Coco Chanel, and a friend of Surrealists such as Salvador Dalì and Man Ray, Elsa Schiaparelli became one of the most prominent figures in fashion and art between the two World Wars by turning the fabric into a painting canvas.” (Galambosova, 2024)
Elsa Schiaparelli also collaborated with the French avant-garde poet Jean Cocteau, to design some of her most unique and famous 1930s masterpieces.
Check out her this one of a kind evening coat that features sequined trompe l’oeil faces. (Below)
Above, Wallis Simpson, the willowy socialite, looks stunning in Schiaparelli’s lobster dress. (Yes, you heard that right! Those are lobsters on her dress.)
This photograph was part of the photoshoot for the bride-to-be at the Château de Candé in France.
Her fiancee was none other than King Edward. He had to abdicate his throne to marry her, since she was a twice divorcee.
This photoshoot got an eight-page spread in the 1937 Vogue, showing what a fashion icon Wallis Simpson was.
1930s Fashion: The Bias Cut & Evening Gown Styles
How did the 1930s dresses achieve their iconic sleek style that drapes so sinuously and fluidly across a woman’s curves?
It was the bias cut.
The fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet began using this technique in the 1920s, and it became one of the most important fashion innovations to shape the style of the 1930s.
For this cutting technique, the designer cut fabric at a 45-degrees against the weave.
This accentuated feminine “body-lines and created more fluid curves or soft drapes.”
Old Hollywood stars like Jean Harlow, Joan Bennet and Carole Lombard oozed glamour and sophistication in their stunning collection of dresses featuring the bias cut.
Also, notice the daring backless cuts?
In contrast to the modest necklines, deep plunging or slashed backs, highlighted the “new erogenous zone” of a ladies’ figure. Sometimes these were even accentuated with jewelry.
Top left, Joan Bennett sizzles in a glittering 1930s low back style gown.
We also love Ginger Rogers’ shimmy across the dance floor, as she teases her partner, a very young Fred Astaire, in her stunning white dress with dramatic color blocking and a plunging back. (top right)
For more evening gowns you might like:
1930s Dresses: The Bias Cut & Day Dresses
In contrast to the slinky high glamour figure hugging evening wear, day dresses went full on romantic.
Fun polka dots, red and blue checks, soft pastel florals, dramatic florals, quirky zebra stripes, or abstract prints… The sky was the limit with the fun fabric options.
Combining the bias cut with incredibly detailed and intricate pattern cutting techniques took day dresses and tea dresses to a whole new level.
Think asymmetrical hems, tiers, panels and layering.
These stunning house dress and tea dress styles emphasized the waist and usually fell between mid-calf to just above the ankle.
Lily James wears some awesome examples of 1930s dresses in the 2020 Rebecca movie:
1930s Dresses: Working Woman & Vintage Casual Day Wear: Shirt & Skirt Style
With more women working, the business girl could afford to dress fashionably.
The outfits of choice for the 1930s working girl had to be functional, feminine, and classy.
The female figure was emphasized with a nipped in waist, and hips were either fitted and slightly flared at the hemline or gathered to the fuller look with a gentle a-line flare style.
Pairing of romantic frilly blouses in rayon chiffons or silk with a contrasting skirts was great style for work or vacationing.
Love 1930s casual style?
1930s Dresses: Working Woman & Vintage Casual: Two Piece Suits
Sharp suits was another favorite look for the women of the era and a go-to style.
Notice the sharp lines, nipped in waist, and dramatic exaggerated (padded) shoulders in these suits styles.
Tweeds and solid classic colored suits, in grays, blacks and white were also 1930s favorites.
The blend of the masculine and feminine has a timeless elegance.
This post was all about womens 1930s dresses
Which 1930s styles are your favorites?
Are you able to spot this decade’s influence on 1940s style and some of the latest fashion trends today, like feminine day dresses and slinky evening gowns?
Other posts you might like:
1930s Wedding Dresses – Vintage Bridal Style in Photos
Rebecca Movie Recap and 1930s Fashion
1930s Swimsuits: Vintage Swimwear & Bathing Styles
References
Blackman, Cally. “100 Years of Fashion.” Laurence King Publishing 2012.
Fiell, Charlotte. “1930s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook“. Welbeck 2021.
Galambosova, Caroline. “Elsa Schiaparelli: Surrealism, Art and Revolutionary Fashion.” DailyArt Magazine. Accessed August 24, 2024.
Morton, Camilla. “Fashion A-Z: Bias Cut.” Business of Fashion. Accessed August 24 , 2024.
